OUR COAL MINES.

Lake County Press, Issue 979, 12 September 1901, Page 2

OUR COAL MINES.

[From the Dunedin Evening Star.] WELLINGTON. September 5. In the annual report of the Minister of Mines appear the following references io the coal mining industry of the colony : For the first time in tne history of the colony the year’s output of coal and lignite exceeds a million tons. The gross output for twelve months ended 31st December last was 1,095.990 tons, made up as follows :—Bituminous and semi-bituminous coal. 675,862 tons; pitch coal, 37,804 tons; brown coal, 339,186 tons; and lignite, 42,538 tons. Compared with the gross output for 1899. the production for last year showed an increase of 118,756 tons. Of this increase the West Coast district contributed t2.236 tons, the Southern district 27.545 tons, and the Northern district 19.175 tons.

In the North Island the Taupiri mines are the chief producers, their output being 77,191 tons, the Hikurangi coal mine coming second with an output of 58,572 tons; Xgunguru coal mifle produced 14,592 tons, and the Kiripaka mine and Hikurangi colliery 11,276 tons and 11,119 tons respectively. A few' other small mines have been at work, principally for local requirements. Some attention is being directed towards the Mokau coalfield, and it is probable that such may be more extensively opened up in the near future. The same remark applies to the Collingwood coalfield in the Middle Island. The West Coast of the Middle Island continues to be me chief coal-producing district, the output of the Westport Coal Company's mine alone amounting to 569.486 tons, or rather more than one-third of the entire output of the colony. The Brunner mines produced 125,405 tons, and the Blackball mirie 82,516 tons, but the output of the latter was somewhat curtailed owing to the mine being closed down for ;i time in consequence of a fire in the workings, which was discovered at c.n early stage and suppressed. The old Mokihinui mine (which was let to a party of working miners) yielded 10,092 tons from the Big Face section, but recent operations cannot be considered as representing a permanent output from this property unless further discoveries of coal tire made.

Fn rhe Southern inspection district there are a number of small mines scattered throughout Canterbury, North Otago, Central Otago, and Southland, which are purely of local importance, but supply the general requirements of the various localities. Their production consists of brown coal and lignite, no anhydrous coals of a marketable character being yet discovered with the exception of some anthracite coal in Canterbury. which is too remote from existing railway lines to become as yet a commercial article. In Central Otago numerous applications for coal licenses or leases have been made. These have all received the careful attention of the department, and it has been found that in many instances these .-(plications have been made for purely speculative purposes, and not with any bona tide intention of the applicants actually working the coal themselves. Where it has been satisfactorily shown that additional leases or licenses were actually -e----quired. grants have been made, and. speaking generally, the areas now held under license or lease are ample for the requirements of the district for some time to come. The principal collieries north of Dunedin are near Shag Point. The Shag Point mine has worked for thirty-seven vears for a total production of 386,859 tons, the output for last year being 21,209 tons. The Allandale colliery (adjoining) had an nut put of 16.595 tons for the year. At the Kaitaugata collieries (which are the principal mines in the South) the output was 112.455 tons for the year, and Nicrhtcaps colliery (Southland) had an output of 27,840 tons. Including some mines on private lands, and worked solely for the requirements of t]n> owners, the number of mines worked during the year is 167, giving employment to 2.460 persons. Tile following statement shows the number of fatal accidents which have occurred for the period covered by the reports of the Inspectors of Mines; Number of persons Fatal Glass of mining. employed. Accidents. Quartz mines 4,267 4 Alluvial and hydraulic mines and dredges ... 9,235 JSJk , Coal mines 2,460 15,962 16 V - Includes one fatality in connection with dredging. The decreased percentage of fatalities in proportion to the number of persons employed, and especially in relation to dredging. is a very pleasing and satisfactory feature.